What's happening in the field?

At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station

Mushroom update

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During the summer, we did a trial run to produce oyster mushrooms in bags to prepare for our Greenhouse and High Tunnel Workshop demonstration plantings. After working the process out, we prepared more bags for mushroom production in the high tunnel (reserving some for the well house Shroom Room as backup). We are using PoHu and Gray Dove oyster mushroom grain spawn. Dr. D. K. Lee and Jeremy Shaffer from the University of Illinois will be presenting information on high tunnel oyster mushroom production at the workshop. Field and Forest Products, who sell mushroom growing spawn and supplies, are one of our sponsors.

Steven Turner is layering moist straw in the grow bags.
Steven Turner is layering moist straw in the grow bags. This was done on Wednesday, September 19.
Grain spawn is then put in the bag before another layer of straw is placed on top.
Grain spawn is then put in the bag before another layer of straw is placed on top.
On Friday, September 28, Avery and Shelia put holes in the bags with an arrowhead for the mushrooms to grow out of.
On Friday, September 28, Avery and Shelia put holes in the bags with an arrowhead for the mushrooms to grow out of.
Here is a close-up of the arrow head putting a hole in the bag. We will move some of these bags to the high tunnel and leave some in the Shroom Room.
Here is a close-up of the arrow head putting a hole in the bag. We will move some of these bags to the high tunnel and leave some in the Shroom Room.